Seeding implement depth adjustment mechanism

ABSTRACT

A seeding implement is provided that includes a depth adjustment mechanism configured to facilitate rapid reconfiguration of a ground engaging tool for varying penetration depths. In an exemplary embodiment, the seeding implement includes a ground engaging tool and a packer arm pivotally coupled to a packer support structure. The seeding implement also includes a packer wheel rotatably coupled to the packer arm, and configured to rotate across a soil surface to limit a penetration depth of the ground engaging tool into the soil. The seeding implement further includes a depth adjustment assembly including a slot within the packer support structure, a corresponding slot within the packer arm, and a fastener disposed through the slots. In this configuration, the penetration depth of the ground engaging tool is varied by adjusting a position of the fastener within the slots.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/693,910, entitled “SEEDING IMPLEMENT DEPTH ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM”,filed Jan. 26, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates generally to a seeding implement depth adjustmentmechanism, and more specifically, to a depth adjustment assemblyconfigured to vary a penetration depth of a ground engaging tool byadjusting a position of a fastener within a slot in a packer supportstructure and a corresponding slot in a packer arm.

Generally, seeding implements are towed behind a tractor or other workvehicle via a mounting bracket secured to a rigid frame of a planter orseeder. These seeding implements typically include a ground engagingtool or opener that forms a seeding path for seed deposition into thesoil. The opener is used to break the soil to enable seed deposition.After the seed is deposited, the opener is followed by a packer wheelthat packs the soil on top of the deposited seed. The packer wheel alsoserves to adjust a penetration depth of the opener within the soil. Incertain configurations, the penetration depth of the opener isadjustable by varying a vertical position of the packer wheel relativeto the opener.

In typical configurations, the packer wheel is pivotally coupled to apacker support structure by a packer arm. Rotation of the packer armrelative to the packer support structure varies the vertical position ofthe packer wheel. In certain configurations, the packer arm includes aseries of openings configured to receive a fastener. The openings arepositioned such that the angle of the packer arm relative to the packersupport structure may be varied by securing the fastener to a particularopening. However, removing the fastener from one opening, rotating thepacker arm relative to the packer support structure, and securing thefastener within another opening is a time consuming process.Furthermore, certain implements may include a large number of openers(e.g., greater than 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or more). Because the openersare typically configured to maintain the same penetration depth, theduration of the depth adjustment process is multiplied by the number ofopeners coupled to the implement. Consequently, reconfiguration of theimplement for a different penetration depth may result in large delaysin seeding operations, thereby decreasing seeding efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a seeding implement depth adjustmentmechanism configured to facilitate rapid reconfiguration of the groundengaging tool for varying penetration depths. In an exemplaryembodiment, the seeding implement includes a ground engaging tool and apacker arm pivotally coupled to a packer support structure. The seedingimplement also includes a packer wheel rotatably coupled to the packerarm, and configured to rotate across a soil surface to limit apenetration depth of the ground engaging tool into the soil. The seedingimplement further includes a depth adjustment assembly including a slotin the packer support structure, a corresponding slot in the packer arm,and a fastener disposed through the slots. In this configuration, thepenetration depth of the ground engaging tool is varied by adjusting aposition of the fastener within the slots. Because the fastener remainsdisposed within the slots during the adjustment process, the penetrationdepth of the ground engaging tool may be varied more rapidly thanconfigurations that require removal of the fastener to reposition thepacker arm.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood when the following detaileddescription is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichlike characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a planter implement including multipleseeding implements each having a depth adjustment assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary seeding implement having adepth adjustment assembly configured to facilitate rapidreconfiguration;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the seeding implement, as shown in FIG. 2,illustrating operation of the opener and packer wheel;

FIG. 4 is a detailed side view of the depth adjustment assembly takenwithin line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the depth adjustment assembly as shown inFIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of the seeding implement, as shown in FIG. 2,illustrating rotation of the packer arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seedingimplement 10. The implement 10 is designed to be towed behind a workvehicle such as a tractor. The implement 10 includes a tow bar assembly12 which is shown in the form of an A-frame hitch assembly. The tow barassembly 12 may include a hitch used to attach to an appropriate tractorhitch via a ball, clevis, or other coupling. The tow bar assembly 12 iscoupled to a tool bar 14 which supports multiple tool frames 16. Eachtool frame 16 includes multiple seeding implements, such as theillustrated hoe openers 18. As discussed in detail below, each hoeopener 18 includes a depth adjustment assembly configured to facilitaterapid reconfiguration of the hoe opener 18 for varying penetrationdepths.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary hoe opener 18 having adepth adjustment assembly configured to facilitate rapid reconfigurationof opener penetration depth. As will be appreciated, the hoe opener 18is a type of row unit, which may be placed on an agricultural implement,such as the seeding implement 10 shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated, thehoe opener 18 includes a frame support 20, mounting brackets 22, a firstmember 24, a second member 26, and a biasing device such as a cylinder28 (e.g., hydraulic and/or pneumatic piston-cylinder assembly). Thecylinder 28 may be hydraulically coupled to a power supply that providesa flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid which displaces a piston rodextending from the cylinder. The frame support 20 and frame bracket 22are configured to interface with the tool frame 16, thereby securing thehoe opener 18 to the seeding implement 10. For instance, multiple hoeopeners 18 may be mounted in parallel along the tool frame 16 to form aseeding unit. In the present configuration, the first member 24, thesecond member 26, and the frame support 20 form elements of a parallellinkage, also known as a four bar linkage. As will be appreciated,components of the hoe opener 18, such as the frame support 20, mountingbrackets 22, first member 24, and second member 26, may be made of anysuitable material, such as steel.

The cylinder 28 is attached to a shank 30 via a pin at the end of thepiston rod. A ground engaging tool, such as the illustrated opener 32,is also disposed to the shank 30 and configured to engage the soil.Contact force between the opener 32 and the soil establishes a momentabout a shank pivot joint. This moment is resisted by force applied tothe shank 30 by the cylinder 28. Furthermore, the linkage is configuredto facilitate vertical movement of the implement 10, while maintainingthe opener 32 at a desired penetration depth within the soil. Asillustrated, the linkage is coupled to a packer support structure, suchas the illustrated packer support plate 34.

A packer arm 36, including a packer wheel 38, is pivotally coupled tothe packer support structure 34. The packer wheel 38 rotates along thesoil surface to both pack the soil on top of deposited seeds and limitthe penetration depth of the opener 32. As illustrated, a pin 40disposed through openings within the packer arm 36 and the packersupport structure 34 enables rotation of the packer arm 36 with respectto the packer support structure 34. However, in a working mode, rotationof the packer arm 36 relative to the packer support structure 34 isblocked by a depth adjustment assembly 42. As discussed in detail below,the depth adjustment assembly 42 includes a fastener disposed within aslot in the packer support structure 34 and a corresponding slot in thepacker arm 36. While in a locked position, the fastener blocks rotationof the packer arm 36 with respect to the packer support structure 34.Conversely, while in an unlocked position, the fastener may betranslated within the respective slots to adjust the rotation of thepacker arm 36 about the pin 40. Such an adjustment varies the verticalposition of the opener 32 relative to the packer wheel 38, therebyaltering the penetration depth of the opener 32. Once a desiredpenetration depth has been established, the fastener may be locked intoposition, thereby limiting rotation of the packer arm 36 and enablingthe hoe opener 18 to enter the working mode. As previously discussed,the packer wheel 38 rotates across a surface of the soil to limit thepenetration depth of the opener 32. Consequently, the difference invertical position between the packer wheel 38 and the opener 32 definesthe penetration depth of the opener 32 within the soil. Because thefastener remains disposed within the slots during the adjustmentprocess, the penetration depth of the opener may be varied more rapidlythan configurations that require removal of the fastener to repositionthe packer arm.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the hoe opener 18, as shown in FIG. 2,illustrating operation of the opener 32 and packer wheel 38.Specifically, the opener 32 is configured to engage soil 50 at aparticular depth 52. The depth 52 may be selected based on soilconditions, seeds, or environmental factors, among other considerations.As illustrated, the depth adjustment assembly 42 includes a fastener 44,a slot 46 within the packer arm 36, and a slot 48 within the packersupport structure 34. As discussed in detail below, the fastener 44 ismovable within the slots 46 and 48 to adjust the penetration depth 52.Specifically, movement of the fastener 44 from the illustrated positionwill cause the packer arm 36 to rotate about the pin 40 in the direction54. As the packer arm 36 rotates, the vertical position of the opener 32varies with respect to the packer wheel 38. Because the packer wheel 38is configured to rotate across the top of the soil 50, varying thevertical position of the opener 32 with respect to the wheel 38 variesthe penetration depth 52 of the opener 32 within the soil 50.

FIG. 4 is a detailed side view of the depth adjustment assembly 42 takenwithin line 4-4 of FIG. 3. As previously discussed, movement of thefastener 44 from the illustrated position within the slots 46 and 48will cause the packer arm 36 to rotate in the direction 54. In thepresent configuration, the fastener 44 includes a bolt 56 and a nut 58.Alternative embodiments may employ other fastener configurations, suchas cam-locks, pins, or other types of fasteners. As illustrated, thefastener 44 is in a locked position that blocks movement of the packerarm 36 with respect to the packer support structure 34. Specifically,the packer arm slot 46 includes a series of indentations 60 configuredto receive the bolt 56 and block movement of the bolt 56 in a direction62. In the locked position, the nut 58 is secured to the bolt 56 withsufficient torque to prevent the bolt 56 from moving out of theindentation 60. As will be appreciated, when sufficient torque isapplied to the nut 58, contact or clamping force between the nut 58, thepacker arm 36, the packer support structure 34 and a head of the bolt 56will limit movement of the bolt 56 out of the indentation 60. With thebolt 56 secured within the indentation 60, movement of the fastener 44in the direction 62 is blocked, thereby blocking rotation of the packerarm 36 with respect to the packer support structure 34 in the direction54.

The present embodiment also includes a guide plate 64 positionedsubstantially parallel to the slot 46 in the packer arm 36. Asillustrated, the guide plate 64 extends above the surface of the packerarm 36 adjacent to the nut 58. The guide plate 64 is positioned suchthat contact between the nut 58 and the guide plate 64 blocks movementof the bolt 56 out of the indentation 60. Such a configuration mayprevent the fastener 44 from moving within the slots 46 and 48 even ifthe torque applied to the nut 58 is insufficient to retain the bolt 56within the indentation 60. Furthermore, the guide plate 64 may provide avisual indication that the bolt 56 is fully seated within the slots 46and 48 after the nut 58 has been tightened.

To facilitate rotation of the packer arm 36 with respect to the packersupport structure 34, the fastener 44 may be transitioned from thelocked position to the unlocked position. In the present embodiment,transitioning the fastener 44 to the unlocked position involvesloosening the nut 58, thereby decreasing the clamping force of the bolt56 and nut 58 on the packer arm 36 and the packer support structure 34.In embodiments without the guide plate 64, loosening the nut 58 enablesthe bolt 56 to move out of the indentation 60, thereby facilitatingmovement of the fastener in the direction 62 within the slots 46 and 48.As illustrated, a diameter D of the bolt 56 is less than a minimum widthW of the slot 46. Consequently, the bolt 56 may move within the slot 46to any desired location. As previously discussed, movement of thefastener 44 within the slots 46 and 48 induces the packer arm 36 torotate with respect to the packer support structure 34.

In the illustrated embodiment, the guide plate 64 blocks movement of thebolt 56 out of the indentation 60 even after the nut 58 has beenloosened. Consequently, to remove the bolt 56 from the indentation 60,the nut 58 may be rotated about the bolt 56 until the nut 58 ispositioned above the height of the guide plate 64. At that point, thebolt 56 may be moved out of the indentation 60 such that the fastener 44may translate in the direction 62 within the slots 46 and 48. As will beappreciated, while the bolt 56 is positioned outside of the indentation60, the nut 58 will overlap the guide plate 64. As a result, an operatormay easily identify a fastener 44 in an unlocked position.

As the fastener 44 moves in the direction 62, the packer arm 36 rotatesin the direction 54 relative to the packer support structure 34. Aspreviously discussed, such rotation varies the position of the packerwheel 38 with respect to the opener 32, thereby varying the penetrationdepth of the opener 32 within the soil 50. Once a desired penetrationdepth has been selected via movement of the fastener 44 within the slots46 and 48, the bolt 56 may be moved into an indentation 60 at theapproximate location of the desired fastener position. The fastener 44may then be transitioned from the unlocked position to the lockedposition. For example, in the present embodiment, the nut 58 may betightened until the clamping force applied by the nut 58 and bolt 56 issufficient to secure the bolt 56 within the desired indentation 60. Aspreviously discussed, in embodiments including the guide plate 64, oncethe nut 58 has reached a position below the height of the guide plate64, contact between the guide plate 64 and the nut 58 blocks movement ofthe bolt 56 out of the desired indentation 60.

Because the bolt 56 is disposed within an indentation 60 when thefastener 44 is in the locked position, the position of the packer wheel38 may be quickly determined by identifying the particular indentation60 that captures the bolt 56. Consequently, once a desired penetrationdepth for one opener 32 has been established, the penetration depths ofthe other openers 32 may be adjusted by moving each fastener 44 to acorresponding indentation 60 (i.e., an indentation corresponding to theposition of the indentation of the first opener 32), therebyestablishing a substantially constant penetration depth across theimplement 10. Furthermore, because the fastener 44 may be transitionedfrom the locked position to the unlocked position, and from the unlockedposition to the locked position, without removing the nut 58 from thebolt 56, adjusting the penetration depth of each hoe opener may beperformed more rapidly than conventional configurations including a pinand multiple discrete holes. Due to the large number of hoe openers 18on a typical implement 10, decreasing transition time betweenpenetration depths may significantly reduce implement adjustment time,thereby increasing operational efficiency.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the depth adjustment assembly 42 as shownin FIG. 2. As illustrated, the nut 58 includes a head 66 and body 68. Aswill be appreciated, the head 66 is configured to interface with a tool,such as a wrench, to facilitate rotation of the nut 58 with respect tothe bolt 56. While the present embodiment employs a hexagonal head 66,alternative embodiments may employ other suitable head configurations,such as slotted, square, etc. As previously discussed, the body 68 ofthe nut 58 is configured to contact the guide plate 64 while in thelocked position to block movement of the bolt 56 out of the indentation60. Furthermore, the body 68 is sized to overlap a sufficient area ofthe packer arm 36 to establish a clamping force that holds the bolt 56within the indentation 60.

In the present configuration, the bolt 56 is a carriage bolt thatincludes a threaded shaft 70, a head 72 and a square portion 74. Asillustrated, the threaded shaft 70 is configured to pass through theslot 48 of the packer support structure 34 and the slot 46 of the packerarm 36. The external threads of the shaft 70 are configured to interfacewith internal threads of the nut 58. The length of each side of thesquare portion 74 is substantially similar to the width of the slot 48within the packer support structure 34. Consequently, when the squareportion 74 of the bolt 56 is disposed within the slot 48, rotation ofthe bolt 56 is blocked by contact between the sides of the squareportion 74 and the edges of the slot 48. In this configuration, the nut58 may be tightened and loosened without a second tool to hold the bolt56 in place. Consequently, the time associated with locking andunlocking the fastener may be reduced compared to configurations thatemploy a first tool for the nut 58 and a second tool for the bolt 56. Aspreviously discussed, other fasteners may be employed to block rotationof the packer arm 36 with respect to the packer support structure 34.For example, certain embodiments may employ a cam-lock that is engagedand disengaged by hand, thereby obviating the use of any tools. Such aconfiguration may further decrease the time to reconfigure each hoeopener 18 for a different penetration depth.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the hoe opener 18, as shown in FIG. 2,illustrating rotation of the packer arm 36. The dashed lines representthe position of the packer arm 36 as shown in FIG. 3. Specifically, withthe packer arm 36 in the dashed line position, the fastener 44 ispositioned at the lower extent of the slots 46 and 48. Consequently, theopener 32 is positioned to establish a minimum penetration depth 52.Conversely, the solid packer arm 36 is positioned at a maximumpenetration depth 76 of the opener 32 within the soil 50. Asillustrated, the fastener 44 is positioned at the upper extent of theslots 46 and 48, thereby rotating the packer arm 36 to the illustratedposition. In the present configuration, the slots 46 and 48 areconfigured to provide at least approximately two inches of penetrationdepth adjustment between the illustrated position and the position shownin FIG. 3. Specifically, the slots 46 and 48 are angled relative to thepacker arm rotation axis about the pin 40. As will be appreciated, theangle between the slots 46 and 48 and the rotation axis affects theratio between fastener movement and penetration depth adjustment. Forexample, in certain configurations, the slots 46 and 48 areapproximately five inches long, thereby providing the fastener withapproximately five inches of travel. Consequently, a five inch movementof the fastener causes a two inch variation in opener penetration depth.Therefore, the penetration depth may be precisely established bypositioning the fastener 44 within the slots 46 and 48. Furthermore, theslot 46 within the packer arm 36 is curved to extend the length of theslot 46, thereby facilitating finer adjustment of the penetration depth.As will be appreciated, alternative embodiments may include more or lesspenetration depth adjustability, larger or smaller angles of the slots46 and 48 relative to the packer arm rotation axis, and/or longer orshorter slots 46 and 48.

While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications and changes will occur to thoseskilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appendedclaims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fallwithin the true spirit of the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A seeding implement, comprising: a frameconfigured to be coupled to a tool bar; a linkage coupled to the frameand including a packer support structure; a ground engaging toolextending from a shank, wherein the shank is coupled to the linkage; apacker arm pivotally coupled to the packer support structure; a packerwheel rotatably coupled to the packer arm, and configured to control avertical position of the ground engaging tool relative to a soilsurface; and a depth adjustment assembly including, a slot in the packersupport structure, a corresponding slot in the packer arm, and afastener disposed through the slots, wherein the fastener is configuredto secure the packer arm to the packer support structure while in alocked position and to enable rotation of the packer arm with respect tothe packer support structure while in an unlocked position, and whereinthe fastener remains disposed through the slots while in both the lockedand unlocked positions.
 2. The seeding implement of claim 1, whereineach slot is at least approximately five inches long.
 3. The seedingimplement of claim 1, wherein the vertical position of the groundengaging tool relative to the soil surface is adjustable by at least twoinches.
 4. The seeding implement of claim 1, wherein the slot within thepacker arm is curved.
 5. The seeding implement of claim 1, wherein theslots are angled relative to an axis of rotation of the packer arm. 6.The seeding implement of claim 1, wherein the slot within the packer armincludes a plurality of indentations configured to receive the fastener.7. The seeding implement of claim 6, wherein the packer arm includes aguide plate positioned adjacent to the slot within the packer arm, andwherein the guide plate is configured to block movement of the fastenerout of an indentation of the plurality of indentations while thefastener is in the locked position.
 8. The seeding implement of claim 6,wherein movement of the fastener between the plurality of indentationsvaries a penetration depth of the ground engaging tool.
 9. The seedingimplement of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a bolt having ahead and a threaded shaft, and a nut configured to secure to thethreaded shaft.
 10. The seeding implement of claim 1, wherein the groundengaging tool comprises an opener.
 11. The seeding implement of claim 1,wherein the packer wheel is configured to rotate across the soil surfaceto limit a penetration depth of the ground engaging tool into the soil.12. The seeding implement of claim 1, wherein a penetration depth of theground engaging tool is varied by adjusting a position of the fastenerwithin the slots.